Amp recommendations
- Thread starter eboquist
- Start date
crunchee
Well-known member
Hell yeah! And plenty left over for VEGAS, BABY! /emoticons/default_cool.png
I was gonna recommend one of these for a Bluesbreaker type of amp, but they're pricier than I remember, at $2750: /emoticons/default_blink.png
http://plexireplicas.com/metropoulos-amplifiers/gpm-45-head/
http://3monkeysamps.com/wordpress/sock-monkey-1812-combo/
Here's the prototype getting out for a spin with a pretty damned cool Hamer:
Here's the prototype getting out for a spin with a pretty damned cool Hamer:
In what context will you be using this amp? Strictly at home by yourself, jams at home or with friends etc.? You mentioned blues, but what style - blues/rock, "rootsy" stuff, R&B, etc? Do you need multiple channels or are you a player who likes to ride your guitar's volume control? Do you use effects and if so, which ones? You play slide? Preferred guitars/pickups?
Your responses might help to narrow down what could be a very broad list of suggestions.
Your responses might help to narrow down what could be a very broad list of suggestions.
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Valvetech is the way to go for blues. Add a cannabis speaker to it and you are in tone heaven.
I'll be playing it at home when the wife and kids are gone. Playing rootsy blues stuff at the moment, don't play slide, I'll be playing my Hamer standard with Lindy Frailin PAF's. Really don't need multiple channels as I do make liberal use of the volume control on the guitar. When I started looking around I thought no way was I getting a Marshall, every wannabe teenage guitar hero either has one or wants one, but my ear keeps telling me "get the bluesbreaker". Every clip I hear of that amp sounds great to me, some of the other amps sound great in some clips and less than great in others. The valvetech is something I hadn't considered before recommended by Gorch, but def a possibility. With respect to pedals, I'd rather leave them out of it for now, I tend to think that if the amp doesn't have a tone that you love clean, you're not going to love it with a pedal.
2 Valvetechs here on stage - the 2x12 was used for harmonica - the red 1x12 is guitar. Solo starts at 4 minutes.
They even work at low volume - the master volume is very good.
These are both with Celestion V30's. I have another one with a weber blue dog - that's my personal favorite for home use.
They even work at low volume - the master volume is very good.
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I think the biggest mistake most players make (I've made it myself over and over and over . . .) is buying an amp designed for stage use and trying to make it work in a home setting. In my experience, anything more than 15 watts sounds like crap anywhere other than on stage in a big room or outdoors.
OK, Maybe the odd 20 watt amp with an inefficient speaker, but that's pushing it.
Nothing sounds worse than a big amp running at low volume with either a master volume creating preamp distortion or a pedal (again pushing the preamp tubes). Unless you like that sound, of course. In that case, you're wrong.
If I were you, I'd try a couple of amps in the 5 to 15 watt range to see what sounds best to you. There are a couple of basic configurations grossly generaized by power tube type as Fender (6v6 or 6L6 ), Vox (EL84) or Marshall (EL34). My absolute favorite (at the moment) is a 13 watt Divided by 13 amp running 6v6s. It has all of the headroom I need to play painfully loud at clean volumes and I can get great power tube breakup as well. Either way, I'm pushing the power tubes enough to hit the amp's "sweet spot" - where it sings, compresses, feeds back just the right amount and becomes a musical instrument in its own right. A 100 watt Marshal Plexi will do that too - at about 130 decibels!
There are hundreds of other choices out there.
OK, Maybe the odd 20 watt amp with an inefficient speaker, but that's pushing it.
Nothing sounds worse than a big amp running at low volume with either a master volume creating preamp distortion or a pedal (again pushing the preamp tubes). Unless you like that sound, of course. In that case, you're wrong.
If I were you, I'd try a couple of amps in the 5 to 15 watt range to see what sounds best to you. There are a couple of basic configurations grossly generaized by power tube type as Fender (6v6 or 6L6 ), Vox (EL84) or Marshall (EL34). My absolute favorite (at the moment) is a 13 watt Divided by 13 amp running 6v6s. It has all of the headroom I need to play painfully loud at clean volumes and I can get great power tube breakup as well. Either way, I'm pushing the power tubes enough to hit the amp's "sweet spot" - where it sings, compresses, feeds back just the right amount and becomes a musical instrument in its own right. A 100 watt Marshal Plexi will do that too - at about 130 decibels!
There are hundreds of other choices out there.
crunchee
Well-known member
+1! The key word there is "experience"...otherwise, amp manufacturers would lose a good chunk of teenage customers who want a 100 watt stack for their bedroom. /emoticons/default_laugh.png
I'm inclined to agree, especially with a speaker upgrade. Brilliant little amp it is.
Carl.B
Active member
I agree with G Man on this one. I also think you should find one and give it a try in person. The Model 1962 2x12 Bluesbreaker is 30 watts and incredibly loud...but they do have "that tone."
Told ya.
And, while I don't play arenas or anything, I gig mine in a 5-piece band. And BadgerDave speaks truth. 15 watts between 5-7 is better than 100w on 2 or 3. It won't crush your head with volume, and the sweet spot is there.
Best tone I've found for what your looking for is an Aiken tomcat or intruder not made anymore, great Marshall sounding 12' and 18 watta. i have a tomcat combo. Have great built in attenuators for home use then enough volume for stage work. There are a couple for sale over at the other website in grand range for a head, one has a cab also.
Another thought. Since you are hearing Marshall whispered into your ear. You may want to check out a Germino Masonette it's essentially a JTM 45 that runs a pair of 6v6s to bring it down to 25 watts. Beautiful cleans, grind, crunch with a little bit more sag, at less than earsplitting volumes. Much better build quality and components than the re-issues blues breakers. I can point you to a 2x12 combo that is almost a grand less than your budget if you are interested. Looks like this.
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